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Epbp - QT504

This document describes a quick test (QT504) developed by the European PET Bottle Platform (EPBP) to assess the removability of label adhesives from PET bottles during the recycling process. The test involves applying adhesive to PET strips, submerging them in hot caustic soda solution to simulate recycling conditions, then calculating the percentage of adhesive removed based on the mass loss. While fast and low-cost, the test is only intended as a preliminary indicator; further testing is needed to fully evaluate impacts on recyclability. The test procedure, apparatus, sample preparation, calculations, and reporting requirements are provided in detail.

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39 views5 pages

Epbp - QT504

This document describes a quick test (QT504) developed by the European PET Bottle Platform (EPBP) to assess the removability of label adhesives from PET bottles during the recycling process. The test involves applying adhesive to PET strips, submerging them in hot caustic soda solution to simulate recycling conditions, then calculating the percentage of adhesive removed based on the mass loss. While fast and low-cost, the test is only intended as a preliminary indicator; further testing is needed to fully evaluate impacts on recyclability. The test procedure, apparatus, sample preparation, calculations, and reporting requirements are provided in detail.

Uploaded by

y.s.6saputro
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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European PET Bottle Platform

Quick Test QT504


Glue separation test
Website version
February 2010

This work has been published by the European PET Bottle Platform with experts in the plastics packaging and
recycling industry. The information contained in this document is for general guidance only. Any details given are
intended as a general recommendation based on the best of our knowledge at the time of publication. It does not
necessarily guarantee compliance with the different recycling schemes. This is by no means a comprehensive
list. Users are therefore advised to make their own enquiries to check for specific and up-to-date information.

While steps have been taken to ensure its accuracy, the European PET Bottle Platform cannot accept
responsibility or be held liable for any loss or damage arising out of or in connection with this information being
inaccurate, incomplete or misleading. Opinions expressed and recommendations provided herein are offered for
the purpose of guidance only and should not be considered as legal advice.
1. Introduction
The objective of the European PET Bottle Platform (EPBP) is to evaluate technologies and
products to allow new PET bottle innovations whilst optimizing the environmental and
economic consequences for the recyclability of PET.

EPBP has formulated guidelines to evaluate the influence of bottle innovations - such as
barrier materials, resin formulations, additives and non-PET components in or on PET
bottles - on R-PET recycling processes. Barrier materials can be applied as a coating,
introduced in a co-injected multilayer configuration or blended with the matrix material.
Additives can be incorporated into the base material during polymerisation or added during
injection moulding in the form of liquid or solid master-batches. Other non-PET components
can be labels, glue, sleeves, caps, printings, etc. .

Laboratory analyses on the recyclability of new innovative PET bottles can be relatively
expensive and usually have a time delay between sampling and getting useable results of
several months. Besides, assessing the test results is a difficult task that requires training
and experience. This is often seen as an inconvenience.

For this reason, EPBP has developed a series of rapid and low-cost techniques for the quick
assessment of PET bottles. All quick tests include a complete explanation of the scope,
techniques, equipment and test conditions, as well as a “summary interpretation” explaining
how to use the test results. Quick tests can either be executed at the internal laboratory
facility or by an independent test laboratory with minimal investment in equipment.

The results of the quick tests are purely indicative, and may not be considered as an advice,
a recommendation or a formal approval by EPBP. For a complete assessment, further tests
are required to highlight all possible effects of innovative PET bottles on the recyclability of
collected bottles into r-PET, the processing of the r-PET into products and the final product
properties. Please contact EPBP for more information.

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
This guideline is intended for use by qualified personnel who recognize safety
hazards and are familiar with the safety precautions required in regard to application
of this guideline. The appropriate laboratory safety procedures must be used before,
during, and after testing operations.

European PET Bottle Platform – Quick Test QT 504


Website Version: February 2010 Page 2/5
2. Quick Test QT 504
Scope
Several types of adhesives can be used to fix a label on a PET bottle. The following test
protocol is designed to provide guidance on the removability of adhesives on PET bottles
during the recycling process. Label adhesives that leave remnants of the label and / or
adhesive should be avoided.

Principle
Label adhesives are the most readily removed during the hot (pre-)wash of the recycling
process. The bottles / flakes are put into a hot caustic solution, where the adhesives are
dissolved or dispersed, breaking the bond with the PET surface, detaching the labels from
the PET bottles. The efficiency of the adhesive removal is determined by the mass loss for
the test sample.

Apparatus
 Oven with forced air circulation, with a maximum temperature of 250°C
 Grooved spade to apply glue according to suppliers instruction
 Beaker of 1000 ml
 Hot plate stirrer, or similar equipment
 Clamping device
 Analytical balance, accurate to 0,0001 g
 2% caustic soda solution

Sample
Cut out 5 strips of PET (from the length of the bottle) of approx. 80 mm by 20 mm, and mark
each strip with a sharp object (A, B, C, D).

Procedure
 Wash samples with cold demineralised water
 Dry samples for 2 hours at 80°C
 Cool to room temperature, weigh each strip and record the individual weights (W1)
 Apply the adhesive evenly on 3 PET strips according to the supplier’s instructions (for
amount, thickness, temperature, etc). Keep 2 strips as reference sample.
 Dry samples for 1 hours at 80°C
 Cool to room temperature, weigh each strip and record the individual weights (W2)
 Wait at least 24h before carrying out the glue separation test.
 Place samples with clamping device completely submersed in 800 ml 2% caustic
solution of 80°C, switch on magnetic stirrer to 500 rpm and leave for 8 minutes
 Important: make sure that the coated strip(s) do neither stick to the mesh at the
bottom, to the sides of the beaker glass, or to each other
 Rinse samples in stirred cold demineralised water for 3 minutes
 Dry samples for 2 hours at 80°C
 Cool to room temperature, weigh each strip and record the individual weights (W3)

Results
The efficiency of the adhesive removal is calculated as follows:
Glue removal = (W2-W3)/ (W2-W1) x 100 (in %).

Optional
This quick test QT504 can be followed by an oven test on the PET strips (see Quicktest
QT500).

European PET Bottle Platform – Quick Test QT 504


Website Version: February 2010 Page 3/5
Test report
The test report includes the following information:
 Reference to the EPBP Quicktest QT 504
 All details necessary for complete identification of the material tested
 Description and detailed photos of the samples before, during and after testing
(especially on colour changes, haze, peel off pieces, etc.)
 Adhesive removal efficiency of each sample, as well as the average efficiency
 Details of any deviation from the test method, as well as any incident which may have
influenced the results
 Date and place of the test.

Remark
This quick test is designed as a quality indicator to monitor a single critical parameter in PET
recycling. Other specific tests are needed to carry out a full screening for possible effects of
innovative PET bottles on the recyclability of collected bottles into r-PET, the processing of
the r-PET into products and the final product properties. Please contact EPBP for more
information.

Photos

Photo 1: PET strip, glue and putty Photo 2: Analytical balance to weigh sample before
washing (W1)

European PET Bottle Platform – Quick Test QT 504


Website Version: February 2010 Page 4/5
Photo 4: Dry sample for 2 hours at 80°C (W1)

Photo 3: Glue removal setup with sample immersed in


caustic soda solution

Photo 5: Analytical balance to weigh sample after


washing (W3)

European PET Bottle Platform – Quick Test QT 504


Website Version: February 2010 Page 5/5

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